Edwaed fbanjilin butlee



A (No Mmel.)

Patented Feb. 2l, 1888.

E. P. BUTLER..

HAME PASTENBR.

www0/md QM 'Unirse S'rarns Ferarri* @lirica EDVARD FRANKLIN BUTLER, OF VHITEWATER, VISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES G. KESTOL, OF SAME PLACE.

HAME-FASTENER.

SPECEEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,128, dated February 2l, 1888.

Application filed December 3, 1887, Serial No, 256,898. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: 4

.Be it known that l, EDWARD FRANKLIN Befr- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at W'hitewater, in the county 0f XValWorth and State ot'lVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hama-Straps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates t0 improvements in llame-straps; and it has for its object to provide means whereby the hames may be more easily and quickly connected than when the ordinary straps and buckles are used.

The invention consists oi' a metal strap which is secured to the lower end of one hame and is provided on the inner side with a series of teeth, a metallic strap attached to the other hanie and provided with a slotted ear to receive the toothed strap and engage the same, and a leather or other flexible strap attached to the strap having the slotted ear, which passes through a slot in the toothed strap and then engages in the slotted ear.

The invention is more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l. is a View of my improved straps applied in the operative position to a pair of haines. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the straps detached. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. i is a detail perspective View of the strap having the slotted ear.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A A designate thc haines, which are connected together at their upper ends in any ordinary or preferred manner.

B represents a metallic strap, which is attached to the lower end of one haine by means of a hook on one end thereof, which is engaged in a ring or eye on the haine. The strap B is provided on the inner side with a series of teeth or serrations, t b, which are beveled on their outer sides (or the sides toward the free end of the strap) and abrupt on their inner side.

C designates a strap which is attached to the lower end of the other haine in the same manner as the strap B, and the free end thereof is provided with an Outwardextending ear, D, having a slot, E, therein to receive the toothed strap. This slot E is of sudicient size to pass over the teeth on the strap B; but it will be seen that if the ear is drawn outward the iuner side of the slot will engage the teeth and the strap C will be locked to the strap B. The

strap B is further provided with a longitudinal slot, F, between the toothed portion and the hook on the end.

G represents the leather or other flexible strap which is attached to the inner side of the strap G, passes through the slot F in the toothed strap, and is engaged in the slot E on the outer side of the slotted strap.

It Will be seen that when the end of the dexible strap is engaged in the slot E the inner side of the slot is drawn into engagement with the teeth on the inner side of the strap B.

The operation of the device as described is as follows: The end of the toothed strap is inserted in the slot E, and the iierible strap is passed through the slot F. rlhe projecting end of the flexible strap is now drawn through the slot F, causing the ear D to slide along the toothed strap until the hames are irmly adjusted on the collar, when the end of the ilexiible strap is inserted in the slot E on the outer side of the toothed strap, to hold the inner side of the slot in engagement With the teeth b. The end of the strap therefore serves 4as a key to lock the strap C in engagement with the desired tooth of the strap B. When the lower ends of the haines are connected by `leather straps, which are provided with buckles to engage in' perforations in the straps, it is difiicult to adjust the haines, for the reason that the tongue of the buckle must be inserted in the perforation. All difdeult adjustment of this character is avoided in my improved connection, for the reason that after the straps have been drawn iar enough together it is only necessary to insert the end of the ilexible strap in the outer end of the slot E.

For the reasons above given it is di'liicult to adjust the hamesin the dark; but it is not necessary to see in order to adjust llames provided With my connection.

The device is further very simple in construction, and therefore may be easily and cheaply manufactured. lt is also much stronger and more durable than leather straps.

While l have described and shown my invention as applicable to a haine, still I am aware that it is susceptible of other uses as abuckle in various paris of harness, and hence I do not Wish to be limited in this particular.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination, with the haines having rings on their lower ends, of the toothed strap B, having e hook on one end to engage one of the seid rings, and the strap C, having a hook to engage the other ring, and a, slotted ear, D, to engage the toothed strap, substantially as specied..

2. The combination of the metallic toothed strap B, having the slot F, the metallic strap C, having the eer D, provided with e slot, E, to receive the toothed strap, and the flexible strap G, attached to the strep C and adapted to pass through the slot F and engage in the slot E, substantially as and. for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, in straps for the Conneetion of the ends ofthe haines, or like pnrposes, of the strap B, having teeth or sermtions b on its inner side, the strap C, having the slot E to receive the toothed strep, and the strap G, or its equivalent, inserted in the outer end of the slot E to hold the inner end ofthe slot in engagement with the said teeth or serrations, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

lEDWARD FRANKLIN BUTLER.

Vi tnesses:

N. M. LifrTLEJonN, J. G. KESTOL. 

